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Australians drinking less alcohol now than at any time in past 50 years: study

Xinhua, May 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

Australia's reputation as a nation of beer guzzlers is under threat, with the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showing Australians are drinking less alcohol than at any time in the past 50 years.

The research, released on Wednesday, shows that beer, wine and spirit consumption has significantly decreased in the five years to 2014, while it was only the consumption of ciders that had increased over time.

In 2009, Australians were drinking 4.68 liters of pure alcohol per capita from beer, well up on the 2014 figure of 4.01 liters per capita.

That equates to approximately 250 full-strength, 330 ml bottles of beer in 2014 - compared to 292 bottles in 2009.

Louise Gates from the ABS said the downturn in alcohol consumption could be attributed to the rise in popularity of mid- strength beer.

"Over the past decade we have seen the popularity of mid- strength beer grow at the expense of low strength beer," Gates said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Mid-strength beer now makes up 19 percent of all beer consumed in Australia, while low strength beer accounts for 5 percent."

Wine consumption has also dropped - from 3.78 liters of pure alcohol per capita in 2009 to 3.64 liters in 2014. The consumption of spirits was also down - from 1.32 liters to 1.23 liters.

Gates said the country had gone through a culture shift which has resulted in Australians reining in their drinking habits.

"The pattern of alcohol consumption has changed significantly over this period," she said.

"Fifty years ago, beer made up three quarters of all alcohol consumed, but now makes up under half at 41 percent."

Meanwhile cider consumption had increased over the past five years, rising from 0.09 liters of pure alcohol per capita in 2009 to 0.22 liters in 2014.

The study followed a national survey conducted by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education and made public last week, claiming that three-quarters of Australians said the nation has a problem with alcohol abuse and many are eager for the industry to be more accountable.

According to the survey, more than nine in 10 Australians believed they were "responsible drinkers." Endi